Shawn Burdette
@scburdet.bsky.social
Childless dog dude
www.wpi.edu/people/faculty/scburdette
wiki.wpi.edu/BurdetteLab/Main_Page
www.wpi.edu/people/faculty/scburdette
wiki.wpi.edu/BurdetteLab/Main_Page
Reposted by Shawn Burdette
Today is the 10th anniversary of my jokily starting a petition to name (then) newly discovered element 117 octarine (Oc) in honour of Terry Pratchett
Element 117 (now named tennessine) is, technically, a halogen. Greenish-purple and only visible to the magically inclined seemed right to me (1/4)
Element 117 (now named tennessine) is, technically, a halogen. Greenish-purple and only visible to the magically inclined seemed right to me (1/4)
January 6, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Today is the 10th anniversary of my jokily starting a petition to name (then) newly discovered element 117 octarine (Oc) in honour of Terry Pratchett
Element 117 (now named tennessine) is, technically, a halogen. Greenish-purple and only visible to the magically inclined seemed right to me (1/4)
Element 117 (now named tennessine) is, technically, a halogen. Greenish-purple and only visible to the magically inclined seemed right to me (1/4)
I can't wait to read the tick-tock on the Venezuelan operation from whichever journalist was accidentally added to the Signal chat
January 4, 2026 at 1:08 AM
I can't wait to read the tick-tock on the Venezuelan operation from whichever journalist was accidentally added to the Signal chat
Can we all agree Bama didn't belong in the CFP now?
Perhaps the Big 12 shouldn't have sent any teams either.
Perhaps the Big 12 shouldn't have sent any teams either.
January 1, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Can we all agree Bama didn't belong in the CFP now?
Perhaps the Big 12 shouldn't have sent any teams either.
Perhaps the Big 12 shouldn't have sent any teams either.
Put me in this camp. Don't let people ignore the shitshow. Some portion of the country will believe him, but most people are sane enough to see he's a lying, incompetent, hate-spewing sociopathic narcissist. The more they see, the more they'll want to see him go.
Put Trump on TV 24/7
Critics seem divided between “I can’t believe they gave Trump free publicity” and “I’m so glad they exposed who Trump is”.
bsky.app/profile/radi...
bsky.app/profile/radi...
December 18, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Put me in this camp. Don't let people ignore the shitshow. Some portion of the country will believe him, but most people are sane enough to see he's a lying, incompetent, hate-spewing sociopathic narcissist. The more they see, the more they'll want to see him go.
Happy @kansascitychiefs.bsky.social elimination day to all those who celebrate!
December 14, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Happy @kansascitychiefs.bsky.social elimination day to all those who celebrate!
Everyone traveling for X-Mas, the dress code is boxer shorts (ones without the button), slippers & a T-shirt being held together by threads.
Duffy: "We've asked Americans to bring their better selves, to bring the civility back to travel. To say please and thank you ... maybe not wear pajamas or slippers on the airplane."
December 2, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Everyone traveling for X-Mas, the dress code is boxer shorts (ones without the button), slippers & a T-shirt being held together by threads.
All I want for X-mas is the Chiefs (& their stupid tomahawk chop) to miss the playoffs
Final:
Chiefs 28
Cowboys 31
Chiefs 28
Cowboys 31
November 28, 2025 at 1:03 AM
All I want for X-mas is the Chiefs (& their stupid tomahawk chop) to miss the playoffs
Some thoughts on how to win the argument with your MAGA uncle at Thanksgiving:
www.messageboxnews.com/p/how-to-han...
www.messageboxnews.com/p/how-to-han...
How to Handle Your MAGA Uncle at Thanksgiving (Without Ruining Dinner)
Some facts and messages for the inevitable, awkward political conversation over Turkey.
www.messageboxnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The turkeys were part of Jan 6 of course.
What is a presidential turkey pardon – and why is it happening again? n.pr/48aUSmd
A tradition for turkeys: Another presidential pardon
What is a presidential turkey pardon – and why is it happening again?
n.pr
November 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The turkeys were part of Jan 6 of course.
Someone in a lab coat & safety goggles who is holding up an Erlenmeyer of colored liquid to the light is no longer classified as a stock photo meaning chemistry
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Someone in a lab coat & safety goggles who is holding up an Erlenmeyer of colored liquid to the light is no longer classified as a stock photo meaning chemistry
This seems to come straight from the academic DH playbook for dealing with huge administrative asks: "If we just take on whatever increased work load and/or reduction in resources that want to impose on our department, we'll earn goodwill that we can cash in later when we need to."
Shaheen: "We've heard from a number of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that they're willing to come to the table, they're willing to work with us once the govt is open to get this done. We've heard the same thing from the White House. So now we'll see if they're really gonna work w/us"
November 10, 2025 at 3:31 PM
This seems to come straight from the academic DH playbook for dealing with huge administrative asks: "If we just take on whatever increased work load and/or reduction in resources that want to impose on our department, we'll earn goodwill that we can cash in later when we need to."
Reposted by Shawn Burdette
Anyone know how Elon Musk’s America Party did yesterday?
November 6, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Anyone know how Elon Musk’s America Party did yesterday?
Forget NYC, NJ & VA our little town's election is all you need to know about the mood in the country. In the last 3 POTUS elections Clinton won the town by less than 50 votes, Biden won by 229 & Trump won by 131. The town GOP has held a lot of town offices recently.
November 5, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Forget NYC, NJ & VA our little town's election is all you need to know about the mood in the country. In the last 3 POTUS elections Clinton won the town by less than 50 votes, Biden won by 229 & Trump won by 131. The town GOP has held a lot of town offices recently.
An odd reaction to the Nobel prize from @andrechemist.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 12:14 PM
An odd reaction to the Nobel prize from @andrechemist.bsky.social
An inorganic chemistry Nobel. Suck it organickers!
The 2025 #NobelPrize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi “for the development of metal–organic frameworks.” Stay tuned for the full story to come! cen.acs.org/people/nobel...
#ChemNobel #Chem #Chemistry #chemsky 🧪
#ChemNobel #Chem #Chemistry #chemsky 🧪
The 2025 chemistry Nobel goes to MOFs
Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi win the prize for developing metal–organic frameworks
cen.acs.org
October 8, 2025 at 12:12 PM
An inorganic chemistry Nobel. Suck it organickers!
Chemistry Nobel moneyline:
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth if the prize does not recognize C-C bond formation or C-H bond breaking (-2500)
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth if the prize does not recognize C-C bond formation or C-H bond breaking (-2500)
October 8, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Chemistry Nobel moneyline:
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth if the prize does not recognize C-C bond formation or C-H bond breaking (-2500)
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth if the prize does not recognize C-C bond formation or C-H bond breaking (-2500)
Last week was the penultimate week of an busy academic term with two big classes. We also had to move out of our house on Oct 1 as well as finishing clearing out the basement + garage & take down fences for a job that will last 4ish months.
Do you know what I didn't need on top of that?
COVID
Do you know what I didn't need on top of that?
COVID
bert from sesame street is wearing a striped shirt and a scarf around his neck
Alt: bert from sesame street is wearing a striped shirt and a scarf around his neck fainting
media.tenor.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Last week was the penultimate week of an busy academic term with two big classes. We also had to move out of our house on Oct 1 as well as finishing clearing out the basement + garage & take down fences for a job that will last 4ish months.
Do you know what I didn't need on top of that?
COVID
Do you know what I didn't need on top of that?
COVID
Does anyone else's purchasing/OSP give them crap about spending grant money on gloves? They claim it should be covered by indirects as a general office/lab supply. PPE?!? #CHEMSKY
September 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Does anyone else's purchasing/OSP give them crap about spending grant money on gloves? They claim it should be covered by indirects as a general office/lab supply. PPE?!? #CHEMSKY
I've taken a big step back on commenting about political things (thanks Elon!) but this makes non sense. I watched both @jimmykimmel.com Mon/Tue episodes. The questionable statement wasn't even directed at Charlie Kirk. He had pointed out how horrific the assassination was & sent his condolences
New reporting from CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister: "ABC hopes to bring Jimmy Kimmel back, but temperature needs to be taken down under FCC threats"
ABC hopes to bring Jimmy Kimmel back, but temperature needs to be taken down under FCC threats | CNN
What played out before Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s show and what comes next.
www.cnn.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I've taken a big step back on commenting about political things (thanks Elon!) but this makes non sense. I watched both @jimmykimmel.com Mon/Tue episodes. The questionable statement wasn't even directed at Charlie Kirk. He had pointed out how horrific the assassination was & sent his condolences
Media's MAGA makeover
The media landscape of 2016 is unrecognizable.
www.axios.com
September 18, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Shawn Burdette
A grim reminder: these people will never be satisfied. There’s no point at which they will say “we’ve won, let’s enjoy life.” They will always be looking for someone else to punish, to revile, to dehumanize. They’re empty without that.
September 18, 2025 at 3:04 AM
A grim reminder: these people will never be satisfied. There’s no point at which they will say “we’ve won, let’s enjoy life.” They will always be looking for someone else to punish, to revile, to dehumanize. They’re empty without that.
Another consequence of the loss of twitter is missing news like this in real time. I came across the obituary while updating my slides for GenChem. The great Darleane Hoffman died earlier this month at 98. A true giant of the field.
chemistry.berkeley.edu/news/darlean...
chemistry.berkeley.edu/news/darlean...
Darleane C. Hoffman, pioneering nuclear chemist and trailblazer for women in science, has passed away at the age of 98 | College of Chemistry
chemistry.berkeley.edu
September 18, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Another consequence of the loss of twitter is missing news like this in real time. I came across the obituary while updating my slides for GenChem. The great Darleane Hoffman died earlier this month at 98. A true giant of the field.
chemistry.berkeley.edu/news/darlean...
chemistry.berkeley.edu/news/darlean...
Screw you Secretary Brain Worm, I got a COVID booster
a cartoon of homer simpson riding a motorcycle with the words " remember to rebel against authority kids " on the bottom
ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson riding a motorcycle with the words " remember to rebel against authority kids " on the bottom
media.tenor.com
September 9, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Screw you Secretary Brain Worm, I got a COVID booster
Google Photo's recent update is emblematic of how the AI revolution is going to change our lives. They replaced some of their tools with AI features. Now, I can't crop images exactly the way I want to quickly, but AI can can very efficiently produce a version of the photo I definitely don't want
July 30, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Google Photo's recent update is emblematic of how the AI revolution is going to change our lives. They replaced some of their tools with AI features. Now, I can't crop images exactly the way I want to quickly, but AI can can very efficiently produce a version of the photo I definitely don't want